Michael Beard
Michael Beard (b. July 22, 1953) is a former Republican member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, representing District 55A from 2003 to 2015. Beard served as assistant minority whip. He did not seek re-election in 2014.
Beard served on the Minnesota Regional Transit Board from 1993 to 1995, and the Shakopee City Council from 1991 to 1995.
Biography
Beard's professional experience includes working as the publisher of the Minnesota Christian Chronicle, and Owner/Operator of the Macalester Park Public Company from 1987 to 1995.[1]
Committee assignments
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Beard served on the following committees:
| Minnesota committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Energy Policy |
| • Transportation Finance |
| • Transportation Policy |
| • Ways and Means |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Beard served on the following committees:
| Minnesota committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance |
| • Government Operations and Elections |
| • Transportation Policy and Finance, Chair |
| • Ways and Means |
Elections
2012
Beard won re-election in the 2012 election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 55A. He was unopposed in the Republican primary on August 14 and defeated Chuck Berg (D) in the general election on November 6, 2012.[2]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican |  Michael Beard Incumbent |
54.7% | 10,008 | |
| Democratic | Chuck Berg | 45.3% | 8,294 | |
| Total Votes | 18,302 | |||
2010
Beard won re-election to the District 35A seat in 2010. He had no primary opposition. He defeated Matt Christensen (DFL) in the general election on November 2, 2010.[3]
| Minnesota House of Representatives, District 35A (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Matt Christensen (DFL) | 7,084 | 35.03% | ||
| Mike Beard (R)
|
13,125 | 64.9% | ||
| Write-In | 14 | 0.07% | ||
2008
On November 4, 2008, Beard won re-election to the District 35A Seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives, defeating Sue Bruns. [4]
Michael Beard raised $34,535 for his campaign.[5]
| Minnesota House of Representatives, District 35A (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Michael Beard (R)
|
15,431 | 55.04% | ||
| Sue Bruns (DFL) | 12,553 | 44.77% | ||
| Write-In | 54 | 0.19% | ||
Campaign finance summary
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Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Minnesota scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2014
In 2014, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from February 25 to May 19.
- Legislators are scored on if they supported or opposed AFSCME's position.
- Legislators are scored based on votes on economic issues.
- Legislators are scored on their support for the organization's principles, which it defines as "provid[ing] a basis for a constitutionally limited government established to sustain life, liberty, justice, property rights and free enterprise."
- Legislators are scored on bills of interest to an organization advocating "limited government, free enterprise, and individual liberty."
- Legislators are scored based on bills related to education.
- Legislators are scored on business-related bills.
- Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues.
- Legislators are scored based on issues affecting nurses, healthcare, and working families.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to animals.
- Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on small business issues.
- Legislators are scored on how they voted on tax and fiscal legislation.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- Legislators are scored by the organization on "their support for legislation forwarding an equitable and inclusive Minnesota."
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2013, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from January 8 to May 20.
|
Taxpayers League of Minnesota
The Taxpayers League of Minnesota, a Minnesota-based taxpayer advocacy organization, releases a legislative scorecard for the Minnesota House of Representatives and Minnesota State Senate once a year. The scorecard gives each legislator a score based on how they voted in the prior legislative term on tax issues and “their efforts to balance the state budget without a tax increase.” The organization also compiles a legislator’s individual "Lifetime Score."[6]
2013
Beard received a score of 92% in the 2013 scorecard, ranking 35th out of all 134 Minnesota House of Representatives members.[7]
2012
Beard received a score of 43% in the 2012 scorecard, ranking 82nd out of all 134 Minnesota House of Representatives members.[8]
2011
Beard received a score of 71% in the 2011 scorecard, ranking 62nd out of all 134 Minnesota House of Representatives members. [9]
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Beard is married with four children.[1]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Michael + Beard + Minnesota + House"
External links
- Official campaign website (Archived)
- Profile from Open States
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign Contributions: 2008, 2002
- Michael Beard on LinkedIn
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Project Vote Smart, "Michael Beard's Biography," accessed December 18, 2014
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Minnesota State Canvassing Report - State Primary - Tuesday, August 14, 2012," accessed April 23, 2014
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "2010 Election Results," accessed March 9, 2014
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "All Races by Legislative District," accessed April 23, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Beard, Michael," accessed December 18, 2014
- ↑ Taypayers League of Minnesota, "Legislative Scorecards," accessed May 15, 2014
- ↑ Taypayers League of Minnesota, "Legislative Scorecard, 2013," accessed May 15, 2014
- ↑ Taypayers League of Minnesota, "Legislative Scorecard, 2012," accessed May 15, 2014
- ↑ Taypayers League of Minnesota, "Legislative Scorecard, 2011," accessed May 15, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Leon Lillie (DFL) |
Minnesota House of Representatives District 55A 2013- 2015 |
Succeeded by Bob Loonan (R) |
| Preceded by - |
Minnesota State House District 35A 2003–2013 |
Succeeded by Jim Abeler (R) |
